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Also is it me, or are all their names in those images laid out in Western style? Their names somehow don't make 'sense' if read as Japanese style (surname first - given name last). So I can make a joke about Haruna somehow having a cousin plagued with misfortune and an unlucky right hand...

I'll go one step ahead and say that she was that cousin of a certain unlucky noabilityuser who had her face swapped to Misaka during [Angel Fall].

However the spotlight episode style of development seems to have been more thought out than I gave it credit for. While the standalone focus makes it hard to create any cast interactions and dynamics elsewhere, the way the story's progressed has made its characterization method the only one that can really work anymore. The set-up for Miki's episode, for example, or episodes 18 and 19.

But eh, I've now resigned myself to the fact that iDOLM@STER likes to go between being just enjoyable to something awesome.

Thinking about that approach. I cannot imagine using a different style. Having all the characters "issues" come along at once -- and expecting those issues to interact with one another -- that's like trying to stuff tangled yarn into a series, and expect it to look good. This episodic approach is far more organized and allows viewers to focus on each of them more so.

Yet, the episodic approach does not interfere with the "chronological" development of the whole thing -- by putting in a common "problem" from the idols and the agency. And that problem is, of course: the agency's marketing and development to allow greater opportunities for the girls as their idol popularity grows.

It can be difficult to put in the episodic approach due to the nature of trying to integrate larger arcs (e.g. Miki's rise to stardom, RK and Ricchan's roll of the dice) into mini character arcs where the focus is on one idol.

I feel that the series work better when the bonds between the idols are highlighted as opposed to idol - Producer. It's why the Chihaya-Haruka arc from 20 to 22+ work as it tells us of the friendship that the two girls have, admittedly hinted from 4/5.

You know, I said last week that I wasn't really excited for this episode, but

HOLY FUCK WTH JUST HAPPENED?!??!?!?.

sorry, I'll write something reasonable later.

Spoiler for THIS IS THE MOST DEPRESSING EPISODE EVER...:

Poor Haruka. Everyone's so busy and doesn't have time for her. This was seriously the most depressing episode ever. Even more so than Chihaya's episode. The only good thing is that we got to see Yukiho, Makoto and Haruka perform little match girl. After that we switch over to Haruka and Miki at the play. Miki really needs to learn how to read the mood one day, because oh god I felt so bad for Haruka. Haruka has been in a depressing mood the whole episode already and on top of that she almost fell in a hole. Producer saved her and then... he fell in the fuckin' hole instead of her. We get to see Haruka and Miki at the hospital all depressed.., soo did BRODUCER JUST FUCKIN DIE?!??!!?

Thinking about that approach. I cannot imagine using a different style. Having all the characters "issues" come along at once -- and expecting those issues to interact with one another -- that's like trying to stuff tangled yarn into a series, and expect it to look good. This episodic approach is far more organized and allows viewers to focus on each of them more so.

Except not even all of the characters have any problems, resulting in a spotlight episode or otherwise that's about showing their personality and/or adventures more than solving exclusive drama. Ami and Mami's ep, or Azusa's, for example. Even then, the focus ends up being exclusive to the point where their personalities cannot interact. They could have slowly built up everyone, thus creating dynamics along the way, but still introduce and solve their respective issues when the show calls for it. As it stands though the start and resolution of their conflicts also doubles as development, then puts them out of focus. And for an anime that uses its cast as one of its main draws, not showing them as much as coherently possible is bound to turn away the fans of whoever isn't on-screen.

I just think that the strength of any character-driven show lies more in their relationships compared to one another as opposed to stand-alone focus; a personality can't be distinct in a vacuum because there's nothing with which it can differentiate itself from.

__________________

I'm saying that practically nobody feels that they're talented.
That's what makes us strive to improve.
As we strive to improve
we notice the people around us improving too
which makes us work even harder.
In a way, I guess you could say friends are like rivals

You know, I said last week that I wasn't really excited for this episode, but

HOLY FUCK WTH JUST HAPPENED?!??!?!?.

sorry, I'll write something reasonable later.

Spoiler for THIS IS THE MOST DEPRESSING EPISODE EVER...:

Poor Haruka. Everyone's so busy and doesn't have time for her. This was seriously the most depressing episode ever. Even more so than Chihaya's episode. The only good thing is that we got to see Yukiho, Makoto and Haruka perform little match girl. After that we switch over to Haruka and Miki at the play. Miki really needs to learn how to read the mood one day, because oh god I felt so bad for Haruka. Haruka has been in a depressing mood the whole episode already and on top of that she almost fell in a hole. Producer saved her and then... he fell in the fuckin' hole instead of her. We get to see Haruka and Miki at the hospital all depressed.., soo did BRODUCER JUST FUCKIN DIE?!??!!?

Preview just shows Haruka depressed ;-;

WHAT THE FUCK DID I JUST READ!?
Tell me this is a lieeeee fffff

*goes to /a/ and see the same reaction
..well shit. I guess that is true after all or you guys were conspiring against me with such a lie! ;_; Anyway, I can't wait for the sub of this episode. I guess I'll stick with Haruka's avatar until I see the episode myself whether I'll continue support her or not

*goes to /a/ and see the same reaction
..well shit. I guess that is true after all or you guys were conspiring against me with such a lie! ;_; Anyway, I can't wait for the sub of this episode. I guess I'll stick with Haruka's avatar until I see the episode myself whether I'll continue support her or not

No conspirency, it's all true ;-;

Oh and don't stop supporting Haruka, she really needs some love right now and it wasn't her fault DD:

Haruka's eternal peppiness means that the air of the show isn't totally fogged up with ennui, but it's not the direction I thought this show would take when I started. (This has been well established by now.) Once again, the segment I found most interesting was the one where Haruka was going through the town and seeing her friends... everywhere. Haruka's story of finding her own identity is important, but it's rather... devoid of... stuff. (That could've been phrased better.)

In the background, pretty much everyone else has been having their own adventures. Ryuuguu Komachi has their own show we peeked into briefly, as does Hibiki. Yayoi probably has some stories of her own to tell. I'm also interested in Mami. What's been going on with her ever since her sister shot to fame? We've gotten brief glimpses into these things, but I want more than glimpses. I suppose that's what fanfics are for.

I'm saying that practically nobody feels that they're talented.
That's what makes us strive to improve.
As we strive to improve
we notice the people around us improving too
which makes us work even harder.
In a way, I guess you could say friends are like rivals

You know, I said last week that I wasn't really excited for this episode, but

HOLY FUCK WTH JUST HAPPENED?!??!?!?.

sorry, I'll write something reasonable later.

Spoiler for THIS IS THE MOST DEPRESSING EPISODE EVER...:

Poor Haruka. Everyone's so busy and doesn't have time for her. This was seriously the most depressing episode ever. Even more so than Chihaya's episode. The only good thing is that we got to see Yukiho, Makoto and Haruka perform little match girl. After that we switch over to Haruka and Miki at the play. Miki really needs to learn how to read the mood one day, because oh god I felt so bad for Haruka. Haruka has been in a depressing mood the whole episode already and on top of that she almost fell in a hole. Producer saved her and then... he fell in the fuckin' hole instead of her. We get to see Haruka and Miki at the hospital all depressed.., soo did BRODUCER JUST FUCKIN DIE?!??!!?

Preview just shows Haruka depressed ;-;

Sounds depressing, but.....

Your summary made it hard for me to not laugh. Your choice of words made it sound very comical. You know....like a satire?

Oh, the irony; I was able to marathon the first 22 eps to catch up to this point... and with an ending like that, I have to wait to see what happens next!

(I suppose it's only fair, considering those of you who have been following the show week-by-week have had to wait already.)

Spoiler for 23:

Here's hoping that the Producer isn't quite dead just yet; but I could easily imagine that he is, indeed, toast.

Still, I suppose it would make things that much more interesting should they ever do a season 2; a new producer (or producers) would have to try and deal with the long-term fallout from this event.

(Indeed, even if the Producer survives, he might end up being out of commission for an extended period anyway; which in its own way would make life difficult for a newcomer. It's one thing to try and live up to a predecessor who has kicked the bucket; it's quite another if the potential of his coming back one day makes it that much harder for the replacement to grow into his or her role without constantly having to look over one's shoulder. And even if the newcomer does well, what would the old Producer be returning to?)